Viola plant named ‘Halo Sky Blue’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Viola  plant named ‘Halo Sky Blue’, characterized by its white and violet-blue colored flowers having a central yellow splotch, medium green-colored foliage, and moderate to vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Viola cornuta.

Variety denomination: ‘Halo Sky Blue’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Viola plant botanically known as Viola cornuta and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Halo Sky Blue’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during April 2007. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Viola cultivars having large flowers with distinctive flower coloration and a mounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Viola cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Viola cornuta breeding selection coded 20214-2, not patented, characterized by its violet-blue colored flowers having a central yellow splotch, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Viola cornuta breeding selection coded 20634-4, not patented, characterized by dark purple-colored flowers having a central yellow splotch, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, spreading growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during September 2007 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since September 2007 in Guadalupe, Calif. and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Halo Sky Blue’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Viola plant:

-   -   1. White and violet-blue colored flowers having a central yellow         splotch;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderate to vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a more spreading growth habit and in being more floriferous. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having a different flower color and a more mounded growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Viola cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Etain’, not patented. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Etain’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Etain’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a more spreading habit than         plants of ‘Etain’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Halo Sky Blue’. The plants were grown in 1-gallon pots for 8 months a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Halo Sky Blue’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Halo Sky Blue’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in June 2012 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill. The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Elburn, Ill. in 1-gallon pots for 8 months utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 45° F. to 65° F. (7.2° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately 35° F. to 45° F. (1.7° C. to 7.2° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Viola cornuta cultivar Halo Sky Blue. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Viola cornuta breeding selection             coded 20214-2, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Viola cornuta breeding selection             coded 20634-4, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 10 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded-spreading.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 21.0 cm. Width: Approximately 37.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of main             branches per plant: Approximately 30.         -   Lateral branches.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Length:             Approximately 16.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 2.1 cm. Texture:             Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 10. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem and             leaf blade is perpendicular to downward turning. Shape:             Narrowly ovate. Margin: Crenate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:             Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf             at center of stem: Approximately 4.5 cm. Width of mature             leaf at center of stem: Approximately 1.6 cm. Texture of             upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface             of young foliage: N137C with midvein of 145A and other             venation indistinguishable from lamina. Color of lower             surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 138A with             venation of 137A. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:             N137C with midvein of 144A and other venation             indistinguishable from lamina.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.8 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144A.         -   Stipules.—Shape: Narrowly Ovate. Margin: Pinnately parted.             Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Length: Approximately 3.5 cm.             Width: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface: N137C. Color of             lower surface: Closest to 138A. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Halo Sky Blue’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and with limited             flowering under short winter days in a greenhouse             environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             5 to 7 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, zygomorphic, not             persistent. Flower aspect; Outward facing to pendant.             Quantity per plant: Approximately 60. Fragrance: Slightly             sweet.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity             showing color per plant: Approximately 30.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Color:             92A.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Orbicular, with a spur on lower petal.             Length: Approximately 4.1 cm. Width: Approximately 3.8 cm.             Depth: Approximately 1.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Five in a single whorl; two upper petals,             two lateral petals and one lower petal, spurred. Shape of             upper and lateral petals: Obovate. Shape of lower petal:             Obcordate. Appearance: Velvety. Margin of all petals:             Entire, slightly undulate. Apex of upper and lateral petals:             Rounded. Apex of lower petal: Obcordate. Base of all petals:             Attenuate. Length of upper petals: Approximately 2.2 cm.             Width of upper petals: Approximately 2.8 cm. Length of             lateral petals: Approximately 2.2 cm. Width of lateral             petals: Approximately 2.3 cm. Length of lower petal:             Approximately 2.3 cm. Width of lower petal: Approximately             2.7 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous, with base of             lateral and lower petals densely glandular pubescent.             Texture of lower surface: Glabrous. Color of upper surface             of upper and lateral petals when first and fully open:             NN155B with an overlay of 92B and 92A, lateral petals have a             faint overlay of 4B with stripes of 93A near base. Color of             lower surface of upper petals when first and fully open:             90B. Color of upper surface of lower petal when first and             fully open: Base of 15A, centers of NN155B with an overlay             of 4B forming a splotch with stripes of N92A, margins of 90B             to 90A. Color of lower surface of lateral and lower petals             when first and fully open: NN155A with an overlay of 90D and             90C.         -   Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm.             Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Color: Closest to 188C.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Star. Diameter: Approximately 1.9 cm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 in a single whorl. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Acute to rounded. Length:             Approximately 1.6 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture             of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper and             lower surfaces: 138A.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong, flexible. Aspect:             Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 7.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per             flower, tightly appressed against ovary. Stamen length:             Approximately 3.5 mm, two bear nectar spurs of approximately             4.0 mm in length. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther width: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Anther color: 155D with 165B at apex. Pollen amount: Sparse.             Pollen color: NN155A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per             flower. Pistil length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Stigma shape:             Globular. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color:             N144D. Style color: 145D. Ovary length: 4.0 mm. Ovary color:             145B. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Viola has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Viola plant named ‘Halo Sky Blue’, substantially as herein shown and described. 